Freshman Dungey picks up Orange

Backup throws for two TDs in relief of injured starter Hunt

Associated Press

Published 11:56 pm, Friday, September 4, 2015

Photo: Heather Ainsworth

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Syracuse's Jordan Fredericks, second from left, fends off Rhode Island's Ahkema Evans during the first half of an NCAA college football game at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, (AP Photo/Heather Ainsworth) ORG XMIT: NYHA201 less

Syracuse's Jordan Fredericks, second from left, fends off Rhode Island's Ahkema Evans during the first half of an NCAA college football game at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, (AP ... more

Photo: Heather Ainsworth

Freshman Dungey picks up Orange

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Syracuse

Eric Dungey threw for two touchdowns and Syracuse routed Rhode Island 47-0 in the opener for both teams on Friday night.

Dungey, a true freshman in his first collegiate game, completed 10 of 17 passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Ervin Phillips. He was pressed into duty due to an injury to Terrel Hunt, who played one series before leaving with an apparent right leg injury.

The Syracuse defense held Rhode Island to just 64 yards for the game. Syracuse cornerback Corey Winfield returned a Paul Mroz pass 24 yards for a touchdown at 10:56 of the first. It was the first career start at Rhode Island for Mroz, a junior college transfer from Victor Valley in California. He finished 10-for-20 for 60 yards.

Senior co-captain Hunt, who was ejected in last season's season opener against Villanova and then suffered a season-ending leg injury that sidelined him for the team's final six-plus games, suffered an apparent right-leg injury during the first quarter.

He rolled to his left and stepped awkwardly before diving forward. He got up on his right foot but then dropped to the turf with 7:38 to go. Hunt walked to the locker room on crutches.

Hunt, who completed one of two passes and had one interception, was then relieved by Dungey, who led the Orange on two TD drives en route to a 31-0 halftime lead.

Wide receiver Brisly Estime took a punt on his 26-yard line and snaked his way down the left sideline for a 74-yard touchdown as time expired in the first half. It was Syracuse's first punt return for touchdown in 12 years.

The Rams, who finished 1-11 in 2014 and are now 4-34 in their past 38 games, recorded just one first down in the first half and the offense registered just 39 yards total offense on 23 plays.

Baylor 56, SMU 21: Seth Russell threw for 376 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for a score to help fourth-ranked Baylor open the season with a victory at SMU. The two-time defending Big 12 champion Bears finally got to start fresh after the long, long off-season that followed their playoff snub last season. SMU played its first game for new coach Chad Morris, Clemson's offensive coordinator the past four seasons.Jay Lee had three TD catches for the Bears, who had 723 total yards.

Mich. St. 37, W. Mich. 24: Madre London ran for two touchdowns in the first several minutes of his college career and Michigan State build a big lead it needed to hold off Western Michigan. The Spartans had a 27-7 lead in the second quarter and were up by 24 points in the third.